Genesis 1: 1- 2:4 is the biblical story of creation. In this understanding of creation, God speaks, separates, and names all that God created. With each day (some undefined period of time), God looks at each aspect and animal of creation and declares that it is good. All creation is filled with inherent goodness and beauty. In verse 26 and 27, God creates human beings in God's image (imago dei). If we are created in the image of God, how do we respond to God as Creator? If God takes the initiative in creation, what is our concomitant response?
One way to understand an appropriate response is to understand our responsibility of dominion (verse 26b) as stewardship and care. We can become engaged with God's abundance in creation (Today's New International Version calls it a "vast array") by keeping and healing creation.
Another way to respond is to envision God's delight in creating. I can just imagine God tapping into her creative side as he creates both mosquito and dolphin. What fun it is to create anything new! So...if we're made in the image of God, where do we find our delight? Where do we tap into our creative energies to co-create with God? If God calls us good, how do we use our goodness in creation care?
I leave you with these open-ended questions because we each approach creation care with our own priorities, our own gifts, and our own experiences with what God has created. Out of our experiences, gifts, and priorities we find energy and passion to tend to the land, sea, air, and animals.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
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